“The torch. We got someone to confess. Sang like a bird. Squealed like a stuck pig. Told us a name.”
“I realize you’re excited, but could you cut the metaphors and tell me the name.”
“Mark Handon.”
Zach’s breath left his body. “Mark?”
“The name sound familiar?”
“Too familiar.”
“Know where I can find him? He’s a professional torch. Freelances all around the county apparently.”
Oh no. Grace was in trouble. She had to be if Mark was her friend. How could she get mixed up with that guy? “I know he’s in Glen Hills.”
“Really? Hot damn. Shouldn’t be too hard to find him.”
“That’s what you think. Gotta go, Ed.”
He disconnected then dialed Grace’s cell. The call went right to voicemail. “Damn.”
He dialed the hospital, but no one answered at the Emergency Medical Services office. She was probably out on a call.
She’d be safe in the hospital anyway.
Grace slept fitfully on the couch in the EMS office. The phone rang once, but she chose not to answer it. No emergency calls woke her, but her dreams wouldn’t let her settle into a refreshing respite.
Her partner woke her when the shift finished. Entering her car, she vacillated between keeping her promise to Zach and finding Mark.
The exhaustion in her bones decided for her. She drove to her hotel room only to find she had a visitor.
“Mark.”
Her heart beat faster as he looked even more deranged than earlier.
“Gracie.”
“What are you doing here?”
She leaned against the hotel door hoping she could open it again in a hurry. He stalked towards her. “I’ve come for you. Let’s leave here.”
“You know I can’t.”
“But if I leave, Dolores lives. I won’t be here to kill her.”
So he was the killer. She couldn’t wrap her brain around the idea. Mark had been her friend for years. Why? “Why did you, Mark?”
“Because she was going to leave Glen Hills.”
“So?”
“Move away from the door, Grace.”
She did, but only a few steps. She didn’t really think he would hurt her. “Okay.”
“Sit on the bed.”
“Why?”
“I can’t trust you. You go off and have feelings for Zach.” He tutted. “Look what happened when you did that last time.”
The horror of her last corpse came rushing back to her. As if caught in an undertow of emotions, her head spun. “Did you do that? Did you kill Kevin’s mother?”
“I had to Grace. She would have made sure you and her son got married.”
The breath went out of Grace. “I loved him.”
“But you shouldn’t Gracie. You should love me. And you’ll learn to.”
This was insane. He was insane. She had to get away from him. Now. Think. “Mark, you can’t make me love you.”
He sat down next to her on the bed. “You will Grace. And just think if you go with me Dolores won’t die. You’ll have accomplished your task.”
“It isn’t that simple, Mark.”
“Yes it is.”
He stroked a hand along her jaw and she stiffened. “Get used to it Grace. I plan to have lots of children with you.”
She gritted her teeth, attempting not to react to him. She’d pulled out her cell phone in the moment he wasn’t looking. She had it set to discreet so he wouldn’t hear her dialing.
Just as she connected with the other phone Mark said, “Now, put your hands behind your back.”
Zach’s phone startled him awake. He turned it off figuring no one would need him now.
Then he realized Grace might call, so he switched it on again. Not recognizing the number, he let the call go to voice mail.
Dolores woke up and searched the room. Her gaze rested on him.
“Hey.”
“Hey, Lors. How you feeling?”
“Like a truck hit me. Zach, I’m sorry.”
“No need. I believed what I wanted to believe. Anyway, I need to know all about Mark.”
Her mouth dropped open. “How do you know about him?”
“That doesn’t matter. I know that he’s going to try to kill you.”
“Mark? No, he wouldn’t. He’s just an arsonist. No one has ever died.”
“Yes, Grace. You’ve never been one to be a good judge of character.”
“Can’t argue that, but Mark?”
“Where’d you meet him?” Zach asked.
“Rehab. I know you’re not supposed to do that, but he pursued me.”
“Rehab?”
“Yes, he was released a day or two before me. He’s got a similar background. Rich, distant parents even though they are still alive.”
“What else do you know about him?”
“That I care deeply for him.”
“Does he have a violent streak?”
“Zach, I may be stupid, but I’m not going to put up with abuse.”
“True, sorry.”
“Why do you think he’s going to kill me?”
Should he tell her? A war waged before he answered. “Because of Grace.”
“Jeez, she won’t let him go.”
“No, Lors, it’s the other way around. He wants her.”
“No, that’s not what he told me. She won’t leave him alone. That’s why she followed him here and that’s why she wanted to know who my tenant was.”
“Grace didn’t know he was here until she saw him.”
“Is that what she told you?”
He hoped his gaze bore into her. He had to make her see. “Lors, who’s a better judge of character?”
“You obviously.”
“Then trust me when I say Mark is dangerous.”
His phone barked.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“I have an e-mail. Who would e-mail me?”
He looked at the picture on his phone and stood fast enough to knock over the chair. “Gotta go, Lors.”
***
Zach had alerted the state police. In his research on Mark Handon he had found out that the man owned a house down the Shore. He directed the police to the Garden State Parkway.
